It was a cold December day in Tokyo city when Suzu, a young business woman of 23 years old with short cropped hair and honey brown eyes got her first assignment. After being bullied around in the company after graduation from a state school in business management degree, they seemed to have finally acknowledged her to go on an important trip to the East China Sea, it would be better than this dull weather and into lovely warm azure skies and ocean. If she did this perfect, she should definitely get a promotion and hopefully some other newbie would get hassled by the superiors.
That was definitely not the case now. Suzu was thrown harshly by a huge Blackman on the deck. She looked fearfully up at the pirates. Beside the Blackman was another young man, probably her age or a bit older, with maroon hair tied into a ponytail. He wore blue jeans and a black wifebeater with tattoo designs going down her right arm to her neck, pointed the her gun at the crew who were huddled against the wall.
"Alright Miss. Jap, I'll want you to clarify this again. The package from Asahi Industries in Tokyo you were charged with until handed to the Chief in Borneo. This is the one, right?"
He pulled out a disk in a clear case out from his pocket, to show her. She slowly got up, cradling her left elbow where she hit it hard.
"Correct. But I want have a question I want to-"
"That's all we need." The Blackman interrupted. The red haired man turned around to point the gun at her, regarding her with cold eyes.
"Dutch, just shoot a hole through her arm, she'll then start singing."
"The package is our payment, that's all we need." The man called Dutch said before he received something on his earpiece. Holding it more firmly against his ear he listened while looking at the petite woman before him. She had as most Japanese have, black hair that was short while wearing a shirt and a light blue necktie. Instead of a pencil skirt which most business woman tended to wear, she wore black pants, more like khakis to accommodate the heat. Through her white shirt, he noticed a light blue bra showing from the top of her unbuttened shirt which could be generous handful when cupped and also she had some black but with blue streaked puma sneakers. Some it up together you had one cute little Jap lady. The red haired man mumbled out a curse, while the black man moved to the crew who huddled in the corner.
"Don't worry Benny-boy. We are done. Start the engines."
After his monologue, he addressed the crew.
"Ok gentlemen! Its your lucky day, your free when we leave this ship. Stay put for an hour and you'll go unharmed, but follow us and none of you will get off this ship alive. Understood!?"
The men nodded their heads. Suzu got up from her position and listened to what he said, she heaved out a sigh of relief.
"Thank God."
She whispered but immediately tensed when the red head pointed the gun at her head.
"What are you relaxing about? Your coming with us. Whore."
With that she glared at the man but kept silent. He nudged the gun hard on her temple.
"Start walking."
As the boat sped away from the cargo ship, Suzu could not believe she was being abducted. Her, a boring nobody who never got noticed by anyone had to be abducted by freakin' pirates. She did ask God to spice up her life but she didn't have this in mind!!
She walked over to a wall to lean on just to get rid of her shock. She gazed dumbly at the ship that was starting to look smaller and smaller. Which she also felt that Japan was getting farther and farther away. Her life, her boring life was flashing through her eyes and so many regrets stabbed at her heart. She would die a virgin as well. Joy, she thought sarcastically.
The red head then demanded her to get inside the ship. She did without speaking a word at him. When he got down later, he shoved her next to a door.
"Sit. Move a muscle and I'll add an extra hole in your body."
He told her harshly. He then sat himself into a chair and lent back.
The Blackman came back from the control room and started at the Jap lady then at the red head.
"Rio! What the hell are we going to do with a hostage?"
The said Rio just looked boredly at him.
"You don't get it do you? We are doing this job for a measly 20 grand sum of money. With a hostage we can get a bonus, Dutch!"
From across the room a blond haired man who tied it as long as Rio in an orange Hawaiian shirt and white khake pants rolled his chair from his computer.
"That's being simple-minded."
Rio rounded on the man.
"Wanna die, Benny?"
"Nah." And went back to his computer.
"Whose going to negotiate with them? You? Have a number you can call? Got a bank account where they can put it in?" Dutch interfered.
Rio jumped up and kicked a wooden box that had empty beer bottles on them to the ground.
"Fine then! We'll kill her here and throw her into the ocean!"
With that he started shooting randomly at the Japanese Lady, who hunched into a smaller ball and let out a whimper of fear.
"Rio! Stop damaging the ship!"
With that Dutch took hold of the wrist with the gun and took the other arm behind his back in a tight hold.
"Okay, okay. I get it. You can let me go now Dutch."
Rio irritatedly said.
"You sure?"
"Positive."
Suzu opened he eyes and noticed there were bullet holes around her head an looked at the duo. This was too much for her fragile heart.
"Lets play it cool, kay?"
"Hn."
Dutch looked at the distressed woman, who spoke to herself with disbelief in her eyes.
"How on earth am I alive? I'm freakin' alive!"
"Alright then. Lets go out for a smoke shall we?"
With that she nodded and hurriedly got up the ladder, just to be away from the Rio guy. Once her head popped out she noticed it was starting to get dark and the the sun was setting. She thought it was the most beautiful thing she saw in the world.
After lighting up a smoke. She asked Dutch.
"What will happen to me?"
"We'll contact your company and set up a trade. No big deal."
Suzu heaved a sigh.
"That will go into my permanent record. Damn it."
Dutch thought it highly amusing that she would think such a thing in a situation that she was in right now.
"Hn, well our first priority is to get that disk to the client."
"The client, huh?"
"We're delivery boys. We need the pay to eat, even if we have to brush against the law from time to time. It's business."
Suzu turned her head to look at the man and felt a sense of Stockholm syndrome coming on. She felt that this was a man that she could trust for her entire life. Regardless that he was a pirate.
"By the way, whats your name? My name is Dutch. The hothead you met is Riocardo, but we call him Rio for short and the blond dude you saw earlier is Benny."
Looking back at the sunset she answered.
"Okajima. Okajima Suzu."
"I only know a bit of Japanese but doesn't that mean bell or Chime?"
"It's in the direction of a Chime."
Dutch smiled at the woman. Her soft voice could definitely rival with one. He was about to ask more questions but noticed that she was nodding off to sleep. Taking her ciggerate out of her mouth, he flicked it into the sea.
"Come on you can use the cabin and get a good nights sleep. I'm sure you'll need your strength for tomorrow's hassle."
Suzu nodded and proceeded to go down. Ignoring Rio, she waited for Dutch to come down and went into the cabin where she followed. Taking out a pillow and a blanket, he walked out of the door.
"Goodnight, Chime."
"Goodnight, Dutch."
Falling suddenly to the floor, she didn't know where she was, but everything came flashing back and groaned of her fate. Folding neatly the blanket and placing the pillow on to of it she placed it back in the cupboard. Opening the metal door, she noticed that they have parked in the docks.
Dutch turned round.
"Good timing. Let's go, Chime."
"Go? Go where? And Chime?"
Benny answered for her.
"He means you and we're going to go somewhere to drink. Don't wanna come?"
He grinned at her while climbing the ladder.
"I thought I was a hostage?" Suzu asked confused while following off the boat and onto the port. Nobody answered her.
"Wait up!" Suzu followed them to a red vintage looking car. Noticing there were only two doors and Benny was waiting for her to slide into the back, she noticed that she would be stuck with Rio. Who only glanced and looked back out the window. Suzu ignored this and stayed as close to the other side as possible.
As they drove she noticed there were many whore bars and gangster like people on the streets. Chatting up hookers or having a brawl outside. Everything her mother used to warn her about, she landed smack in the middle.
"Where are we?" She finally asked.
"Welcome to Roanopurar." Was all Dutch said before stopping in front of a bar called Yellow Flags.
"Here we are." Benny said cheerfully.
As they went inside everyone just glanced and went back to their merry conversations. Suzu noticed on every table there was a gun, which just made her even more nervous when the men started leering at her.
As they sat down and ordered a pint of beer, Suzu couldn't help comment.
"Is this some Western movie bar at the end of the world?"
"Not a bad analogy." Dutch answered. "This place was started by the losers of the Vietnam war, they took in all the deserters as well and before you know it, it became hell. Hookers, junkieds, mercs, killers, the list goes on. Dislike it?"
Suzu stared at her beer and flinched when she heard two men brawl and apparently used a glass bottle to hit the other man.
"I think I rather have unguarded smiles, like in the Japanese pubs. A place like this…"
Just behind them they heard a man threaten someone again.
"…I'm not suited for fighting."
"Definatly have that kind of face." Dutch said as he got up from his seat and over to a pay phone in the corridor. "Benny, I'm going to make a call."
Benny lifted his beer glass in acknowledgement.
"Don't worry if all goes well, you'll never have to be in this situation." Benny told her while lifting his glass for a cheers bump. Suzu smiled at him and clunked her glass to his as well.
"You seem different from the rest. Why is that?" Benny gave a shudder before giving a reminiscing smile.
"I was in college in Florida. Played with fire with both the cops and mafia. Dutch and Rio took me in before I could become a weight in the suitcase."
Suzu shuddered. They saved him from certain death. Suzu wanted to know more but then a slam of a gun on the counter and then a muscled arm wrapped around her shoulders towards a tipsy Rio.
"Stop talking bullshit, Benny. Your not old enough to talk like a grandfather! Now, Chime, we came here for a drink. One for you and one for me."
He said while pouring Bacardi into a glass for her and himself. Rio then settled himself in the seat Dutch was before facing her. She was startled a bit when he smirked at her, he then drained the whole glass in front of her and slammed the glass down.
"Beer tastes like piss anyway, you can't get drunk. A man drinks Rum! But you don't need to if you don't have the gets, It'll just mean I win the bet and you'll have to be my slave for the whole day and do ANYTHING I want. Deal?"
He smirked again. Suzu glared at him the meanest glare she could sum up with. She pulled her tie off and stuffed it into her back pocket. Abruptly stood up causing her chair to fall over, she leaned close to Rio's face and stared dead in his eyes.
"I hate to chug drinks cause I feel sick! But never underestimate a Japanese business man or woman for that matter cause I was forced to always go with my superiors to drink," She chugged the rum down and slammed it down as well. With that she glared down at him but gave him a cheeky grin.
Being short tempered as he was. Rio stood up as well to take up the challenge, towering over her. Both glared a while before they looked upon the bartender who amusedly looked at the two.
"Hey Bartender!" Rio shouted and simultaneously shouted, "Bring all the Bacardi you've got!"
Benny just kept on drinking his beer and sighed.
"I though you didn't like fighting, geez."
Rio and Suzu got a bottle each and chugged down, feeling the effects of the rum. Rio had to respect, but wouldn't admit it, that for a small girl she could hold her alcohol well. Suzu on the other hand just did not want to lose to this guy and hoped he would just drop dead! Figuratively. They didn't notice that they were having an audience, who were betting and cheering them on. But everyone fell silent when something small and round bounced on the ground, and then an explosion occurred.
From outside the bar, men started to shoot people down. Agonized screams groans were washed down by the gunfire. Suzu immediately went on the ground and covered her head as glass landed around her. She heard a command basically saying no mercy so she crawled to go around the counter to where the bartender usually stood and served. When she got round she hit her head on something and looked up. It was Rio's leg and he seemed unbothered by the shooting as he still cradled his glass. Beside him was the bartender who held a shot gun of some kind and looked angrily at Rio.
"Rio! If their your friends you deal of them right now! How many more times do you wanna destroy my bar?"
"I don't know them."
The counter vibrated by the bullets hitting against it but couldn't penetrate. Rio looked impressed.
"You've bulletproofed the bar. You've shopped smart this time."
"I'm going to send you the bill for replacing all damaged goods, you got that!"
"Whatever."
Suddenly Dutch's voice shouted out from the corridor.
"Rio!"
"Alive."
"Benny?"
"Miraculousy, I'm alive." With that he rushed over to Dutch.
"Chime?"
"WHY ME? I fucking get out of uni and into a good company and then THIS!? It's not FAIR!"
"Stop crying, you cry baby. You've got to enjoy life more often, or you'll just go to waste."
With that another explosion occurred. Suzu protected her head but she could hear Dutch tell Rio why he is called Two-Hands. Looking over at Rio, she noticed that his green eyes became hollow, emotionless, nothing. The firing stopped and they could hear a bunch of footsteps coming in and could clearly hear the commander of the massavre.
"I hate survivors."
Rio just smiled and jumped over the counter and started firing, killing. Suzu curious, peeked over the counter and couldn't believe that this man was killing with an excited smile. They were truly monsters for her. But she was in awe that he could move in such grace and agility to evade the other bullets. She was thrown back to reality when a shot nearly missed her head and proceeded to crawl to the corridor where the others were. When she got there, Dutch just looked at her.
"Whats going to happen now?" she asked.
"We don't have plans for you. How about we part ways?"
"Bullshit, you brought me here, your taking me with you!"
"As you wish. Just don't pull our leg. Rio! We're going!"
From the midst of the fight, Rio shouted his answer and slowly backed away to the corridor. Running through after Dutch, Suzu didn't even sympathize the other guards that were killed and got into the car that Benny drove in with. Later on would she ponder how Benny got out without being caught, but suriving was her first priority.
As they sped away and everyone seemed to calm down, Suzu asked.
"What the hell happened?"
"I talked to Balalaika, and he told me that there are people here to stop us from bringing the disc to him. A Chinese ratted us out and the masters name is Shinginan's Wan Taikei employed assasins. Them, some ex-militia. Anyway its time that we and get a lead start."
Dutch finished and Suzu looked dumbly at the back of his head.
"I must be in some bad Hollywood movie."
Rio smirked next to her.
"Don't be stupid, this is much better than any movie. Oh by the way, Dutch. Bao was about to explode like a nuclear bomb and told me that if we don't pay for damages then he'll seal our assholes shut and open one somewhere else."
Dutch grimanced.
"Scary. Makes me wanna cry."
They got to the docks and hid the car carefully, and all quickly got on. Within a minute they were already at sea. Dutch told everyone to get a nights sleep and then afterward Benny could take over when he wants a nap. All agreed and went into the cabin. Suzu and Rio had a dispute over the pillow but later on she won it over rock-paper-scissors.
"Goodnight Rio."
"Stupid bitch."
As she woke up, she was the only one left in the cabin and got out. She sat down on a box just on the right of Dutch and stayed silent.
"Chime."
"Yes?"
"Benny is just getting in touch with your company. If negotiations don't go well then we may have to leave you around Malaya after we give the disk to Balalaika at Balawan port. Sorry."
Chime angrily narrowed her eyes at his back.
"Their bandits all around but its better than dieing immediately, right?"
"So that's it. After you dragged me all over the place and now your just abandoning me. At least you could bring me somewhere safer."
"Stop whinging you crybaby."
Suzu flinched at the sound of Rio's voice and looked at him. He stared right back with an intense glare.
"First you cry, then use us like a taxi? Watch what you say, Jap cause I could show you what your brains look like."
Suzu grimaced and looked away but perked up when Benny called out that he was connected to the company. Quickly avoiding Rio she quickly grabbed the earpiece that Dutch was holding up.
"Chime, its your boss, Mr. Kageyama."
"Department chief! This is Okajima Suzu. I'm so sorry for the inconvenience I've cause you. Concerning about the disk-"
"Do not concern yourself about that anymore. The disk no longer exists."
"I-I don't think I follow sir."
"I'll tell you the truth since I owe you that much but you keep this to yourself. We hired help from a person who has certain capabilities from a certain country and that disk contains the plans. Everything just got a bit out of hand but I will certainly become the top. But this can not come out into public, Okajima."
Suzu couldn't believe what she was hearing. That was all blackmail and she was part of it!
"For the sake of the 50,000 employees of Asahi enterprises, disappear into the East China Sea. You have been promoted to chief, Okajima and we'll have a beautiful funeral set up for you. The ruffians should soon be catching up to you. Goodbye."
Suzu calmly went onto the deck. She felt sick, so terribly sick that she was cast away like some petty trash. Rio came up after her, feeling really sorry since he listened in with the conversation and also sorry that they'll get no ransom money either.
"Got ditched pretty easily, eh? I still don't think that's something you should mope around for."
Rio mentioned.
"Just leave me be." She snapped.
All of a sudden from the earpiece Suzu heard Benny speak to him.
"Ya up there Rio?"
"Yeah what?"
"Something is coming towards us over the ocean but its too fast for it to be a boat. Look at 2 o-clock, see anything?"
As they looked towards the sun their was a black dot in the horizon. Rio noticed it first.
"Shit! It's a low-altitude assault gun ship!"
Just as he mentioned that the boat jerked in full speed ahead, causing Suzu to fall over and roll under for some cover. She looked up. Their going to kill me with that!? Those mother fuckers will pay for this! She thought.
"Chime, hold this."
Suzu looked over and clumsily held a gun. She looked at it in disbelief.
"hold this!? You have got to be kidding me!"
Suzu got that out of her mouth before the shooting from the helicopter began. She snuck more underneath some metal to make sure nothing would hit her. Rio took out some big bazooka sniper looking gun and started shooting.
"Shoot it down!" Suzu screamed.
"Shut the fuck up!" Rio shouted back. "Why don't you try it then. Your lying under a torpedo launcher, anything hits that then BOOM! Your history."
"Why do I have to suffer like this!?"
"Quite whining and be some use bitch!"
Suzu had it, another round of bullets hit nearby her, and she hated the situation. Getting away from the launcher she grabbed the gun and aimed at the heli.
"I have had it to being a doormat from you, from them and the fuckin' department chief. This. Ends. Now!" With that she shot as the heli many times as she can. She can hear a few bullets hit the font but that hardly did any damage. Rio just looked flabbergasted at the petite lady. He fet a bit turned on by her anger and the gun she held. After all the bullets were gone, Suzu flung the gun at the helicopter which did nothing but sink into the blue abyss. Rio jumped over to her and held her collar to him.
"What the hell was that for? How much do you think guns cost huh!?"
"I don't fucking care and get your dirty hands off me!" With that she stomped her way under the deck leaving Rio behind. He looked back and noticed that the enemy stopped shooting and were just chasing them. He went down the deck to hear what plan Dutch could come up with. Shaking his head he just knew it was going to be a loooong day.